Great Stories
- First Book Helping with Gulf Coast Recovery
- College Summit Working with High School Students in St. Louis
- Trips for Kids Marin Chapter
- Ben and Jerry's PartnerShops Share the Scoop on Job Training with: Goodwill of Greater Detroit
First Book Helping with Gulf Coast Recovery
First Book, the non-profit organization with the single mission to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first books, distributed more than 5.1 million new books through Book Relief to children, families, libraries, schools, and programs impacted by the 2005 hurricanes.
Book Relief was the nation's most comprehensive effort to give books to children and adults recently struck by national disasters. The relief was an unparalleled, publishing industry program to place at least five million new books into the hands of those displaced by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, as well as into schools, libraries, and literacy programs in the devastated areas as they are rebuilt.
Participating in the program were 60 first, second and third grade students from Martin Behram Charter Elementary School in New Orleans. The children were given the opportunity to take part in reading circles with volunteers and honorary guests and receive new books as part of First Book's continued commitment to rebuilding children's lives, one new book at a time. More than 30 publishers joined in the initiative, donating 5.1 million new books to First Book during the two-year period.
"Book Relief began with a commitment to bring new books to the communities impacted in the region, a commitment that will continue as First Book works to end illiteracy and bring the magic of reading to children in the Gulf Coast region and beyond," Kyle Zimmer, president of First Book.
During the two-year effort, First Book distributed books to thousands of programs in more than 20 states. First Book reached more than 2,200 programs in the five most heavily-impacted states-Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. First Book was able to efficiently and cost-effectively bring new books to these communities by using the logistical infrastructure of the First Book National Book Bank.
College Summit Working with High School Students in St. Louis
Beaumont High School in St. Louis is one of four traditional, comprehensive high schools in the city’s public school system. Before the College Summit firm entered Beaumont High School, less than 40% of the graduating class went on to two or four-year colleges, as reported to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
College Summit is a national non-profit organization that works to build the capacity of schools to dramatically increase college enrollment throughout participating school districts. Trained student influencers build college-going tools to help all students create postsecondary plans and apply to college. Over the past decade, College Summit has worked in partnerships with schools, school districts, and colleges to develop a sustainable model for raising college enrollment rates community-wide.
During the first full-year College Summit was integrated into Beaumont High School (2005-2006), nearly every senior participated in the College Summit curriculum. The seniors at Beaumont High exceeded their goals in almost all of the College Summit indicators:
- 78% completed college lists online
- 68% completed applications online
- 89% of the senior class sent out at least one college application
Out of the 164 Beaumont seniors enrolled in College Summit, 80 students were accepted to at least one college that spring. The statistics show just how successful Beaumont High School students have been by participating in the College Summit curriculum.
Trips for Kids Marin Chapter
Doug Long is the perfect volunteer for Trips for Kids. As someone who pushes himself to find new ways to appreciate the little things in life, the chance to show youth from disadvantaged circumstances the wonders of the outdoors has been rewarding.
Trips for Kids provides the materials, moral support, and inspiration that an individual or group needs to help youth from disadvantaged circumstances discover the joy of mountain biking. Many of the youngsters live in inner cities and never experience the beauty of open space that might be just a few miles away. The non-profit operates in both the United States and Canada and opens the world of cycling to at-risk youth through mountain bike rides and Earn-A-Bike programs.
Volunteer Doug Long, a big bike-riding fan, got involved with the Marin chapter of Trips for Kids after his father, a Trips for Kids volunteer, passed away. "I thought I would get involved to keep up the tradition," said Long.
Rides take place four times a week, volunteers bring their own equipment, and ten kids make up each group. The whole team travels to the site together with a specialty trained volunteer leading each ride.
Long admits that volunteering with a program like Trips for Kids is not easy and not for everyone. "There are some rough spots. We're here to challenge the kids, and sometimes it's just as much a challenge for us," he said. "But believe me, you feel a whole lot better at the end of the day."
Ben and Jerry's PartnerShops Share the Scoop on Job Training with: Goodwill of Greater Detroit
Goodwill empowers people who have disabilities and other barriers to employment to become independent and self-reliant. This mission is accomplished through a variety of community training and work experience opportunities.
In July 2005, Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit opened the Woodward Avenue Scoop shop in the heart of Detroit. Every cone, cake, smoothie, and sundae bought at this scoop shop supports the local Goodwill organization. This is because the scoop shop is a Ben & Jerry's PartnerShop. Goodwill of Detroit owns and operates this Ben & Jerry's as a place to teach young kids and adults job and entrepreneurial skills.
PartnerShops are Ben & Jerry's scoop shops that are independently owned by community-based nonprofit organizations. Ben & Jerry's waives the standard franchise fees and provides additional support to help nonprofits operate businesses.
PartnerShops offer jobs and entrepreneurial training to youth and young adults facing barriers to employment. As PartnerShops operators, nonprofits retain their business proceeds to support their programs and help fulfill their critical missions.